Flexible curtain



' J. CAHILL.

FLEXIBLE CURTAIN. APPLICATION map Nov. 25. 1919.

2 shears-sun 1.

j avwmtfoz Q/bfi Cb/ljl Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

J. CAH ILL.

FLEXIBLE CURTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25- 1919.

Patented Sept. 14,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

svwewtoz .zen of the United States, residin 3 01-116" CAHILL, 0F NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

FLEXIBLE cunram.

1 i l Application-filed November 25, 1919. Serial No. 340,!57.

To all whom itma'y concern Be itknown that 1, JOHN GAHILL, a citiat Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk an State of Vir inia, have invented certain new and useful mprovements in Flexible Curtains, of which the following is a specification. 1

' This invention relates to an improvement in flexible curtains of that type made of interconnected slat units, the invention being more particularly dir cted to a slat unit construction, to provide'a light opening therethrough and to receive and hold a light-transmitting section, as of glass. J

The unit of the present invention 18 made up of a metallic section or sections, accordingl as a single or double wall unit is desire the respective ends of the section be-. ing formed with means adapted for an interlocking swinging fit with adjacent sections, whereby the units are assembled in curtain formation with the relative slat movement necessary in the operation of the curtain.

The invention also provides for the construction of the. unit section or"; sections so that they may be'integrally formed for the reception of a glass section, so'that any desired number of slat units in a curtain structure may have light-transmitting openings.

The slat formation for the reception of the glass. section insures the simple and ready application of the glass section and the proper securing of the same in place; such construction serving additionally to strengthen such slat units.

The'i-nvention in the preferred form of details will be described in the, following specification, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings, in w ich:-

Flgure 1 is a perspective view, showing a curtain made up of the slatunits of the 1nvention. v

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of adj acent connected units, single wall type, and each being s ownas provided with glass closed light admission openings.

Fig. 3 is a view in section showing the improved slat units in connected relation, the units being of the double wall type.

Fig. 4 is.a viewin section of a double wall t e of slat unit provided with a glass closed l g t admission opening. Fig. 5 is a view in elevation illustrating Specification of Letters Patent.

and to such a unit constructed simply the slats bein of the Patented Sept. 14., 1920.

particularly the means of securing the glass section in the slat unit.

6 is a section on line 66 OfFlg. 5. Fig. 7 is a broken perspective view, illustrating particularly the formation of the support or frame for the light transmitting element.

The flexible curtain 1 is' made up of a series of slat units, interconnected so that the curtain may be readily rolled, as on a roller 2. The slatunits of which the curtain is constructed is, as here shown, ofdouble or single wall type, and ,in the single wall type, comprisesa single section of metal 3, of apprn riate dimensions, formed at one end W1 formed with a coil 5, formed, however, by being bent outwardly from the .section, following a lateral deflection, of the section to provide-a wall, 6. The coils 4 and 5 are thus a coil 4, bent inwardly toward the sec- 7 .tion. The opposite end of the section is in line with each other and with the main I fitting of the coils provides azunion which in addition to permitting all necessary relative movements ofthe slat units, is at the same time strong and substantial, and readily associated, as by the endwise movement of the slat units, which is readily apparent. I

The slat unit of the double wall type is the utilization of-two single wall sections, relatively reversed, such sections being indicated at 7 and. 8. The end coils of the single sections, as 4 and 5, and associated in the double wall type, to provide end coils 9 and 10, respectively, which owing to the reversed positions of the single wall sections, are substantially identical. That is the coil 4 of one single wall section fits within the coil 5 of the other single wall section, the coils of course being projected in the same direction. This provides the double wall type with end coils, which may be associated with similar end coilsof adjacent sections in assembling the slat units for curtain formamission of light through the curtain, so that when lowered the light will not be completely cut off. The present construction of slat unit, in both the single and double wall type, is readily adapted for the provision therein ofwlight openings, and such provision constitutes an important feature of the present invention.

In the single wall type of unit, the latter, in providing for the light-opening, is cut away within its marginal edges to form an opening 11 of appropriate size, with flange portions 12 and 13 integral withv the end and side edges of such opening. The flanges 12 are bent laterally to form' walls for the end bearing ofthe glass section 14, while the flanges 13 are turned laterally in the same directions as the flanges 12, and their respective longitudinal free edges turned inwardly, or toward each"other, to form upper "and lower bearing portions for the section 14. The inturned edges of the flanges 13, as 15, prevent movement of the glass in one direction relative to the bearing flanges 12 and 13, and holding sections 16 are provided to prevent movement of the glass section in the opposite direction. The sections 16 are formed with flat portions 17 to overlie the slat unit beyond the light opening 11, being. secured in place in any appopriate manner, as by spot welding. Inwardly of the flat portions 17, the sections 16 include bearing strips 18, adapted to overlie and bear on the surface of the glass section 14 in opposition to the turned edges l5. The bearing strips 18 are preferably disposed at an angle to the surface of the glass to thereby operate to some extent as a yielding means for holdin the glass in place. This will compensate or any possible movement of the glass in the operation of the curtain, and thereby avoid breakage.

The glass sections are thus supported on and withinflanges formed integrally with the slat unit, and these flanges, by their bending'and final position tend to strengthen the unit, as willbe evident.

In providing the slat unit of the double wall type with the light. openings, struction is similar to that descrlbed, so far as one wall of such unit is concerned. The

remaining wall of the unit is formed with a light opening 19, having integral marginal flanges 20, whlch are bent inwardly toward the glass section. The opening 19 is approximately of the size of the glass-section between the upturned edges 15, so that the appropriate flanges 20 extend toward such completed curtain.

the conedges 15 and in substantial line with their margins. The greater portion of the glass section is thus entirely unobstructed, the glass section is arranged centrally of the double wall, that is inwardly of the surface of each wall, and thus protected, and yet such glass section is readily accessible when removal or replacement is necessary.

f course, it is to be understood that certain sections or slat units only are to be provided with the glass protected light openings in the completed curtains, and by the construction of slat units described any oneor more may be initially formed for the reception of the glass section, and such units assembled "in any desired position in the The complete flexibility of arrangement is a particularly important result of the improved construction.

The formation of the interfitting coils of the respective slat units, insure a close contact relation of such parts throughout a substantial circumferential length. This provides an effective metal barrier to the passage of flame from one side of the curtain to the other through the coil formation, as will be evident. Furthermore, the wall formation of the units, when arranged in ourtain forming relation, as in Fig. 1, acts as an effective watershed, and prevents the surface drainage from reaching into the coils.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. A slat unit having integral glass supporting means.

' A slat unit having the wall thereof formed with a light opening, the marginal edges of the opening being arranged toprovide a glass-section housing.

3. A slat unit having the wall thereof formed with a light opening'and' integrally to bear on the edges of a glass section closing said opening.

4. A slat having a light opening provided with marginal abutments constituting retaining means for a light transmitting element.

5 A slat having a light opening and re inforced by bending tHe margins of the opening to form a frame for a light transmitting element. I

6-. A slat unit for flexible curtains comprising a wall section having end coils projectedin opposite directions.

' slat unit for flexible curtains comprising spaced wall sections each having end coils, the end coils of one wall section being Within the endcoils'of the other wall section.

8 A slat unit formed with a light opening having the marginal edges thereof bent to form flanges, certain of the flanges having laterally deflected edge portions.

A slat unit formed with a light opening, the marginal flanges of the opening being bent to form a support for a light transmitting element, a light transmitting element in said support, and means secured to the unit to bear on said element.

10. A slat unit having a light opening, the marginal edges of the opening being bent to provide a relatively offset frame .for a light transmitting element, a light transmitting element in said frame and closing the opening, and means carried by the unit to bear on said element beyond the frame.

11. A double wall slat unit with the walls formed with light openings, the marginal edges of one of said openings being formed to provide a support for a light transmitting element.

12. A double wall slat unit having both walls formed with light openings, the marginal edges of one opening being bent a light transmitting element arranged in wardly of both walls.

13. A flexible curtain made up of slat units, the respective units have terminal coil formations with the coil formations of one unit fitting closely within and contacting throughout a substantial circumferential length of the coil formations of the adja cent unit, whereby to seal the unit connections a ainst flame passage.

14'. A slat unitfor flexible curtains comprising a wall section having end coils projected in opposite directions, one of said coils being developed from the plane of the wall and the other coil being developed from a right angle extension of the wall.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN CAHILL. 

